Conduct disorder is a mental illness that usually strikes children between the ages of 9 and 17. It is more common in boys. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has found that between 1 and 4 percent of children in this age range have conduct disorder. The illness manifests as repeated inappropriate behaviors. While all children may display one or two of these characteristics from time to time, conduct disorder is diagnosed only when the behaviors occur repeatedly and the child's life is negatively impacted by them. Treatments exist for conduct disorder.
Violates Rules or Laws
The child with conduct disorder may exhibit a lack of respect for rules by being late for class, skipping school, not turning in homework assignments and violating curfew. She may run away from home. When she begins driving, he may get speeding tickets and reckless driving tickets. This child may begin using drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. The child with conduct disorder seems to have no respect for rules or authority.
Destroys Property
Deliberate destruction of the property of others is another characteristic of conduct disorder. The child may destroy the inside of a home with crude tools or use spray paint to damage the outside of a home or car. He may "trash" a house by throwing things about. Some sufferers will burn down a house or building or set a fire in the woods. The child with conduct disorder seems to have no respect for the property of others.
Shows Aggression Toward Others
The child with conduct disorder may be aggressive toward siblings, peers or the disabled. She may bully other children, engage in fights and make cruel comments to people who are disabled or different. She seems to enjoy intimidating others and may use weapons. These weapons may be crude, such as a ball bat, or sophisticated, such as a knife. The child with conduct disorder exhibits no respect for most of the people around her.
Abuses Animals
Another characteristic commonly found in conduct disorder is abuse of animals. Whether kicking a puppy, or torturing a cat, this child shows no true remorse for hurting animals. He may abuse an animal belonging to someone else out of vindication for a perceived wrong. The child with conduct disorder shows no respect for the rights of animals.
Steals Property or Money
The child with conduct disorder may steal belongings that she covets or that she knows are important to the owner. She may steal money from her parents or demand it from younger children. This pattern of theft may accelerate from stealing while no one is around to performing an actual hold-up. The child with conduct disorder seems to have no respect for the belongings of others.
Lies Without Remorse
Lying is a hallmark sign of conduct disorder. When caught in a lie, the child with conduct disorder may show no true remorse and seem sad only that he was exposed. His deceitfulness may extend to peers, of whom he makes promises to obtain favors. These promises are then never fulfilled. The child with conduct disorder appears to have no respect for the the truth.
Engages in Inappropriate Sexual Activity
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration relates that children with conduct disorder may engage in early sexual activity. This does not include normal sexual exploration or expression of affection in the late teen years. Alternatively, a child with conduct disorder may engage in forced sexual activity with people who are physically weaker than him or use weapons to force submission. The child with conduct disorder seems to have no respect for the sexual rights of others.
References
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Facts for Families: Conduct Disorder
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Children's Mental Health Facts: Children and Adolescents with Conduct Disorder
- University of Virginia Health System: Mental Health Disorders: Conduct Disorder
